Canon of Repentance by David the Restorer: Intertextual Analysis

Abstract

Abstract. Canon of Repentance (Galobani Sinanulisani) is the only literary creation of Saint David IV the Restorer (1072–1125). The oldest manuscripts of the hymn, dating back to the 12th–13th centuries (A-290, A-85, K-22), were intended for educational purposes and originate from the Gelati School. This fact alone indicates that the text of Canon of Repentance was considered as a didactic work since its origination.

Intertextual analysis has enabled us to delve deeper into King David’s spiritual world, to gain a better understanding of the hymn’s content, and to thoroughly examine the author's poetic laboratory. The inspiration for Galobani Sinanulisani was the Great Canon of Repentance by Andrew of Crete. The third Georgian translation of Canon of Repentance was commissioned by David IV and carried out by his spiritual mentor, the renowned scholar, writer and translator, Saint Arsen Ikaltoeli.

In addition to the Great Canon, the hymn includes citations and paraphrases from various sources, including: Holy Scripture, particularly Genesis, Psalms, Books of Kings, and the New Testament (Gospels, Epistles, and Revelation); The apocryphal Prayer of Manasses; John of Damascus' Exposition of the Orthodox Faith; Writings of Gregory the Theologian and Dionysius the Areopagite; The Great Nomocanon and its derivative, the Synodicon of the Ruis-Urbnisi Council (1203), among others.

Following the structure of both the Old and New Testaments, Canon of Repentance consistently unfolds the moral downfall of humankind after the expulsion from Paradise, accompanied by personal reflection on sins and deep repentance. The hymn consists of eight odes and thirty-three original troparia. The troparia are predominantly centered on biblical-historical themes, and the Theotokion, dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos, stands out for its distinctly theological content and supplications addressed to the Virgin Mary.

The results of intertextual analysis are highly significant for Textual Studies and Translation Studies. The identified references and examined paraphrased sources cited by the author facilitates a more precise and argumentative textual interpretation and contributes to the more accurate and terminologically refined translations.